Ratchet wrench



J. PASQUARIELLO Malfch 31, 1953 RATCHE'I WRENCH Filed Nov. 28, 1950 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Bnve'ntor Cttorneg` MM5 PHSGUHIPJFM 0 March 31, 1953 n 1 PAsQUARlELLQ 2,633,044

RATCHET WRENCH Filed NOV. 28, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 :inventor Patented Mar. 31, 1953 g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A RATCHET WRENCH d James Basqariello, Paterson, N. J. Application November 28, 1950, Serial No. 197,985

3 Claims. (C1. 81--57) .r This invention relates to improvementsfin wrenches, and has particular reference to ratchet wrenches.. More particularly the invention-re-V latesto ratchet wrenches having incorporated therein a new and improved means for rapidly screwing up or unscrewing the nut or bolt when it is suiiiciently loose to. turn easily.

The present inventionprovides a ratchet wrench in which the main body of the wrench may be used inthe conventional manner, that is, by pivoting such body about the head carrying the socket holder and repeatedly oscillating said bodyy during the tighteningor loosening of the nut or bolt. To sudh main body of the wrench and the parts functioning as above set out, there is `added the novel auxiliary driving` mechanism orrapidly screwing or unscrewing such nuts and Preferablyrsuch auxiliary driving mechanism incorporates `an f additional, secondary, handle projecting angularly from the main body'of the wrench, whereby such auxiliary mechanism may be operated by squeezing the secondary handle and the main handle,v formed byla part ofthe body of the wrench, with one hand. The co-nstruction of the wrench is rugged, and the rate of drive of such fast-acting auxiliary driving mechanism is not so high as to preclude the adequate screwing up to fully tightened position of a nut or bolt by usey of two hands, when the space inwhich the wrench operates is so restricted as to preclude swinging of theentire wrench body. A

In the preferred embodiment `of the wrench shown, the auxiliary fast-acting driving mechanism is so connected to the main wrench that the driving of the rotatable socket wrench holder by such auxiliary mechanism isindependent of its driving by the main body of the wrench. Consequently, no strain is imposed upon the auxiliary fast driving mechanism when the ratchet wrench is employed in the conventional manner, that is,

portion of said socket wrench holder rotating mechanism. l Y g In Figs. l and 2 the wrench there shown is generally designated by the reference character 2. Wrench 2 has on the lower end thereof a main handle 4 which may be solid, or hollow if desired, and is preferably shapedA to t the hand. Above handle 4 the wrench 2 is longitudinally slotted in that portion thereof at the left in Fig. 1, such slot being designated 6, and the side walls thereof being designated 8, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Slot 6 extends deeply into the body of the wrench, there beingathin end wall 38 at the right hand edge of the wrench as it is shown in Fig. 1, the slot 6 extending from the bottom end I Ito the top end l0 thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper end or head I2 of the wrench incorporates therein mechanism. .to be more fully described, for driving, either by means of oscillation of the main body 2. of the wrench or by operation of the auxiliary fast-driving mechanism to be described, the oppositely extending socket wrench receiving Shanks I4 and I8. Such driving means is received in the head I2 within the space 48 therein, being introduced from the side of the wrench toward the reader inFig. 1 when cover plate I6 is removed, and being retained therein by. means of the cover plate I6 which is secured to the 'wrench main body by the screws` 20.

Thev means for driving the auxiliary fast-driving mechanism for the socket wrench holder takes the form of the second-class lever 22 pivotally mounted on the lower end of the wrench body 2 in such position as readily to be squeezed by the one hand Aof the operator'holding main handle'4. Lever 22 carries on its upper end the v spaced parallel ears 24, such ears snugly receivby oscillating. the entire wrench body'about thel I socket wrench holder. .A

. Theinvention will be more `readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings form.-l

ing a portion ofthe specicaton.

.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of apral Fig. 3 isa view in horizontal cross section through the axis of the rotatable socket wrench holder driving mechanism, the section being taken along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 isa view in end elevation of one `portieri of the socket wrench holder rotating mechanism;

and

` Fig. 5 is a view in iront elevation ofanother ing therebetween the rst-'class lever 26, such assembly of ears 24 and lever 2B being received, as shown in Fig. 2, between the inwardly extending thickened bearing portions 28 of the side walls of the wrench body. Thelever 22 and the lever-26 are pivotally mounted on the wrench 2 by meansv of the stud or pivot pin 30. I I

Operating lever 26 carries on the lower -end thereof the depending curved tail portion 32,' the terminus of which extends into the longitudinally extending depression or recess `34 on the under side of lever 22, as shown in Fig. 1. Lever 26, and consequently lever 22 as well, are constantly urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of the leaf spring, 35,' one. blade .of whichcontacts lever 26 above the pivot pin 30, as 'shown in Fig. 1. The other blade of such leaf spring is attached to the body 2 of the wrench bymeans of Y. the rivet 4l! extending through the end wall 38 of minus of portion32` of lever 26's1iding longitudithe body and such second blade of the spring.- Squeezing of the lever 22toward the handle 4 will accordingly impellever 26 in ,-a clockwise direction, as the wrench is shown-in Fig. 1, the. ternally in recess 34 of lever 22. Travel of lever 22, and thus of lever 26 also, in a counter-clockwise direction -is limited by engagement between stop shoulder 4I on lever 22 and the main body of the wrench. The upper side walls of slot 6 in the body 2 of the wrench are thickened, as shown in Fig. 2, so as guidingly to receive therebetween the upper end of the lever 26.

Such upper end of the lever carries an arcuate portion projecting to the right as shown in Fig. 1, such projection being designated 44. The top surface of projection 44 carries thereon the arcuate rack or gear segment 42. Rack 42 meshes with the Pinion 46 of the rotatable socket wrench holder driving mechanism, more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The parts are so proportioned that when secondary handle 22 has been squeezed to lie close to handle 4, rack 42 will have travelled substantially throughout its full extent in mesh with pinion 45, the right hand end of part 44 protruding through 'an opening in w'all 38 of the wrench body. The driving mechanism is composed of three main parts, the first, shaft-like part 52, and clutch element 68, being at the left in 3, the second part consisting of the pinion 45 and the toothed clutch part 66 which is integral with such pinion, and the third, shaft-like part 54, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 5.

The part 52 has integral therewith the previously mentioned squared socket Wrench receiving shank I4.l To the right 'of shank I4, as it is shown in Fig. Y3, there is on part 52 the cylindrical bearing portion 10, accurately fitting within the bore through the left hand end of the Wrench head I2. The right hand end of part 52 is composed of the enlarged toothed clutch part 68. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, part 52 is provided with an axially extending recess l2 which is rectangular in transverse section.

As stated above, the pinion 425 and the clutch part 66 are integral. Clutch part 66 is complementary to part 68, so that the teeth of such parts accurately intert when the clutch portion -BG is impelled to the left in Fig. 3 by the coil spring 64. The part consisting of pinion 46 and clutch part 66 has an axial bore therein accurately receiving the cylindrical portion 56 of the third main part 54 of the driving mechanism.

Part 54 has, as shown on the bottom thereof in Fig. 5, the tang 58 which snugly but slidingly is received within the recess '|'2 in part 52. Above the cylindrical portion 56 there 'is disposed the ratchet wheel 6U integral with part 55, and above the ratchet wheel there is the cylindrical bearing surface 62 which is accurately received within the bore through the cover plate I6, as shown. rihe previously mentioned squared socket wrench receiving shank I8 is disposed on the top end of the part 54.

When the part 52, the central portion consisting of the pinion 46 and the toothed clutch part 66, and the third main part 54 are assembled in the head of the wrench I2, with the coil spring G4 positioned between ratchet wheel 60 and the pinion 46, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig, 3. The ratchet wheel 6I) is vpositioned within the shallow space 50 which borders the main space 48 within head I2. Also located within space 50, and coacting with ratchet wheel 6B, are the two pivotally mounted ratchet dogs 'i4 and 15, positioned diametrically across the ratchet wheel, as shown, and both functioning t prevent clockwise rotation of the shanks I4 and I8 with respect to the wrench body as the wrench is shown in Fig. 1. Preferably each of dogs 'I4 and I5 is provided with a plurality of ratchet wheel engaging teeth so as to distribute the stress over such teeth of the dogs. Dogs 'I4 and 'I6 are pivotally mounted, as explained, upon the horizontal pivot pins 'I8 and "I0, respectively. Such dogs are constantly urged toward the ratchet wheel by means of the leaf springs 82 and 84 respectively, one blade of such leaf spring being in engagement with the rear surface of its dog and the other blade of such spring being attached t0 the side wall of the recess 5i) in head I2 as by means of a driven pin or the like.y

From the above description of the construction of the wrench of a preferred embodiment of the invention it is believed that the mode of operation thereof will be clear. However, such method of operation and the advantages thereof will be briefly summarized. As above explained, the dogs 'I4 and 16 prevent clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 60, and thus of the shank I8 and also of shank I4, which is keyed to part 54 by means of the tang 58 in the recess 12. Consequently, to loosen a nut, by use of the wrench body as a whole, it is necessary only to engage such nut with a wrench socket mounted upon shank I4, and then to turn the body 2 of the wrench as a whole counter-clockwise about the axis of such nut. If, on the other hand, it were desired to tighten such nut by use of the wrench body 2 as a whole, it would be necessary only to remove the wrench socket from shank I4, to place such socket upon shank i8, and then to engage the socket on the nut. Rotation of the wrench body 2 about the axis of the nut would then cause the wrench socket to tighten it. It is apparent that during such operation the body 2 may be rotated completely about the nut, or if space is limited, it may be oscillated thereabout the Idogs 'I4 and '.'E allowing such intermittent gripping and loosening of the ratchet wheel 60. During the reverse, idle, oscillation of the wrench body the teeth of toothed clutch part 66` will ride up the inclined portions of the teeth of clutch part 68, thereby allowing pinion 46 to travel idly with respect to parts 52 and 54.

During the above described operations of tightening or loosening nuts by use of the wrench body 2 as a whole either by continuously rotating such body or by oscillating it and thus the use of the dogs I4 and 16, there is no stress or strain whatsoever imposed upon the auxiliary fast driving mechanism composed of parts 46, the arcuate rack 42, and the levers 26 and 22, since all the stress between the rotatable wrench driving mechanism and the wrench body is taken by dogs 'I4 and 16.

When the auxiliary fast-driving mechanism is employed in either the preliminary tightening of nuts at a fast rate or the removal thereof after having been preliminarily loosened, the appropriate shank I4 or I8 being employed as the case may be, the operation is as follows: Squeezing together of the main handle 4 and the auxiliary handle 22 results in turning the lever 25 clockwise about its pivotal axis as the wrench is shown in Fig. 1. Such motion of the arcuate rack 42 drives the pinion 46 in a counter-clockwise direction, as the device is shown in Fig. 1. This means that the clutch part 66 is travelling in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, so that the straight faces of the meshing clutch parts 6B and 68 are drivingly in contact. Consequently both Shanks I4 and I8 are rotated during such operation, the dogs 'I4 and I6 allowing rotation of ratchet wheel 60 in such direction. Upon release of handle 22, the lever 26 and arcuate rack 42 travel in a counter-clockwise direction, so that pinion 46 is then impelled in a clockwise direction. During such idle or return rotation of the pinion 46, parts 52 and 54 are held from such reverse rotation by means of the dogs 14 and 16. During such reverse or idle return of the auxiliary driving mechanism, the inclined surfaces of the teeth of clutch parts 66 and 68 ride up on each other, thereby impelling clutch part 66 and pinion 46 integral therewith to the right, as the device is shown in Fig. 3, against the action of coil spring 64. When the arcuate rack 42 has reached its end point of travel in a counter-clockwise direction, the clutch part 66 and the pinion 46 then travel to the left, as the device is shown in Fig. 3, so that the two clutch parts mesh and that the auxiliary fast driving mechanism is once more in condition for driving of the rotatable head.

It will be seen that the described embodiment of wrench is simple and is rugged in construction. As explained, no stress is imposed upon the auxiliary fast driving mechanism Iduring the use of the wrench as a conventional ratchet wrench employing the entire body of the wrench as the socket wrench operating lever. The auxiliary fast-driving mechanism is rugged enough to allow two-handed operation of the lever 22, and thus to allow full tightening of the nut in close quarters by such auxiliary mechanism alone. It is usually preferred, by suitable proportioning of the arcuate rack gear 42 and of the pinion 46, to have the Shanks I4 and I8 driven through one complete revolution upon swinging of the lever 22 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position close to handle 4 of the wrench.

Whereas, for purposes of illustration I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the ratchet wrench of my invention, it is to be understood 'that such Idevice is illustrative only and that the ratchet wrench of the invention is capable of considerable variation as to details. The invention is, therefore, to be defined by the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

I claim as new the following:

1. A ratchet wrench comprising a wrench main body. said main body including a main handle and a head portion, a rotatable socket wrench holding and driving mechanism mounted in said head portion, said driving mechanism comprising a first shaft part having a socket holder on one end thereof and a first toothed clutch part on the other end thereof, a second shaft part coaxial with said first shaft part and slidably keyed thereto as an extension thereof, one of said shaft parts having secured thereto a ratchet member, a dog carried by said main body and engageable with said ratchet member, a second toothed clutch part slidably and rotatably mounted on said second shaft part, means constantly urging said second toothed clutch part into'mating relationship with said first toothed clutch part, a pinion slidably and rotatably mounted on said second shaft part and integrally connected with said second toothed clutch part, the ratchet member and dog and the toothed clutch parts being so disposed as to rotate the socket wrench driving mechanism in the same direction, a gear segment pivotally mounted on the wrench main body, said gear segment meshing with said pinion, and means to oscillate said gear segment.

Y 2. A ratchet Wrench comprising a wrench main body, said main body including a main handle and a head portion, a rotatable socket wrench holding and ldriving mechanism mounted in said head portion, said driving mechanism comprising a first shaft part having a socket holder on one end thereof and a first toothed clutch part on the other end thereof, a second shaft part coaxial with said first shaft part and slidably keyed thereto as an extension thereof, one of said shaft parts having secured thereto a ratchet member, a ydog carried by said main body and engageable with said ratchet member, a second toothed clutch part slidably and rotatably mounted on said second shaft part, means constantly urging said second toothed clutch part into mating relationship with said first toothed clutch part, a pinion slidably and rotatably mounted on said second shaft part and integrally connected with said second toothed clutch part, the ratchet member and dog and the toothed clutch parts being so disposed as to rotate the socket wrench driving mechanism in the same direction. a secondary handle on the form of a second-class lever pivoted to the main body, a pivot pin connecting said secondary handle to the main body, a first-class lever pivotally mounted on the main body on said pivot pin, the last named lever being engaged at a first end thereof with the secondary handle at a point close to but spaced from said pivot pin, and a, gear segment mounted on the second end of the last named lever and meshing with the pinion.

3. Aratchet wrench comprising a wrench main body, said main body including a main handle and a head portion, a rotatable socket wrench holding and driving mechanism mounted in said head portion, said driving mechanism comprising a shaft having a socket holder on each end thereof and a rst toothed clutch part intermediate the ends thereof, a ratchet member on the shaft, a dog carried by said main body and engageable with said ratchet member, a second toothed clutch part slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, means constantly urging said second toothed clutch part into mating relationship with said first toothed clutch part, a pinion slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and integrally connected with said second toothed clutch part. the ratchet and dog and the toothed clutch parts being so disposed as to rotate the socket wrench driving mechanism in the same direction, a gear segment pivotally mounted on the wrench main body, said gear segment meshing with said pinion, and means to oscillate said gear segment.

JAMES PASQUARIELLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 919,260 Smith Apr. 20, 1909 1,306,553 Morrison June 10, 1919 1,684,633 Levedahl Sept. 18, 1928 1,827,159 Miner Oct. 13, 1931 1,903,514 Merriman et al Apr. 11, 1933 1,970,721 Walton Aug. 21, 1934 2,143,173 Shaff Jan. 10, 1939 2,290,197 Merriman et a1 July 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 82,355 Sweden Jan. 8, 1935 

